Something in the way you love me won't' let me be
I don't want to be your prisoner, so baby, won't you set me free
Stop playing with my heart
Finish what you start
When you make my love come down
If you want me, let me know
Baby, let it show
Honey, don't you fool around

Just try to understand (understand)
I've given all I can
'Cause you got the best of me

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushing my love
Over the borderline

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushing my love
Over the borderline
(Borderline)

Something in your eyes is makin' such a fool of me
When you hold me in your arms, you love me 'til I just can't see
But then you let me down, when I look around
Baby, you just can't be found
Stop driving me away, I just want to stay
There's something I just got to say

Just try to understand (understand)
I've given all I can
'Cause you got the best of me

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushing my love
Over the borderline

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushing my love
Over the borderline
(Borderline)

38 Comments

General Commentit's actually about a girl having a lot more feelings than her man, but for some reason, the man is pushing her away and she's that close to breaking up with him if he doesn't get the message.

General CommentI like many of the guesses here, but there isn't a shred to support what many of the comments are about. It has nothing to do with orgasms, Sean Penn, guy Ritchie, or borderline personality as some have mentioned.

Here are some facts- It was written before Madonna even met Sean Penn/ Guy Ritchie.

In fact the song was written by Madonna's producer Reggie Lucas, not Madonna

"Its lyrics dealt with the subject of a love that is never fulfilled and was written as a rebellion against male chauvinism."

Being that it was written by a male I think it takes more of the general aspect of being emotionally abuse. The male chauvinism aspect (which is emotionally abusive) only comes into play because it was song by Madonna - not because of the lyrics itself.

When a partner with holds love as punishment, it's emotional abusive and demeaning. Stonewalling, emotional abondonment, and other behaviors can be cold followed by strong affection which plays head games with the victim.

The bar is set to high and ones best is never good enough- They are at the mercy of trying to please the abuser giving them all they can destroying themselves in the process. The abusive partners holds the victim prisoner by overwhelming them one moment giving them hope and crushing them in the next moment by abondonment.

"When you hold me in your arms, you love me 'til I just can't see, But then you let me down, when I look around. Baby, you just can't be found"

The cycle of emotional abuse is dehumanizing, destroying self confidence, and feeling trapped. Because they love their abuser they can't let it go, and they are pleading to be set free. The last few lines mention at how much the abuse has taken it's toll.

"Look what your love has done to me
Come on baby, set me free
You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline
You cause me so much pain, I think I'm going insane
What does it take to make you see
You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline"

"Look at what your love has done to me" is really "look at what your (emotional abuse) has done to me.

She is losing her mind knowing that this relationship is destroying her and wants out before she loses it.

Borderline the song and video has been observed in academia for it's symbolism as well. It's actually rather sophisticated and worthy of a lot discussion that's hidden in just a few lines of what just appears to be another upbeat top 40 pop song.

TranslationAgreed with what Moogle wrote. Borderline is the first of the lady's sad songs-it has a theme that became an undercurrent in Madonna's music-a relationship that is spinning and tumbling out of control-when Madonna sadly cries "Something in the way you love me won't let me be...You just keep on pushing my love over the Borderline!," she is about to go into a screaming rage!-when I saw the CD/DVD combo of the Sticky and Sweet Tour-her best performance ever I might add with loud guitar rocking in her hands, Madonna indeed Justified Her Love and immoralized her validation at the Rock

TranslationFirst off, I agreed with what Moogie wrote about Borderline. Borderline is the lady's first sad song-it has a theme that became an undercurrent of Madonna's music-that of romantic deception, mistrust and unrequited love-a relationship that is unfortunately spinning and tumbling out of control. Madonna will never be satisfied with any man in her life-just ask Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie. When Lady Madonna sadly cries "Something in the way you love won't let me be!...You just keep on pushing my love over the Borderline!"-she is about to go into a screaming rage! When I saw the CD/DVD combo of the Sticky and Sweet Tour on the screen-her best performance ever I might add with loud guitar rocking in her hands, Madonna indeed Justified Her-and Our Love and immortalized her validation at the Rock

TranslationFirst off, I absolutely agreed with Moogie about Borderline-the first sad song by Madonna. Heartbreak, sadness and unrequited love would become key themes in Madonna's artwork. For her, love is an emotion full of sadness, rage and loss
-Just ask Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie about it! Borderline is a sad Madonna tune about thwarted opportunities and unrequited love-an angry relationship spinning and tumbling madly out of control. I can hear the absolute rage in Madonna's sad voice on Borderline. When Lady Ciccone cries "Something in the way you love me won't let me be!...You just keep on pushing my love over the Borderline!"-she is about to go into a psychotic screaming rage! When I saw the CD/DVD combo of the Sticky and Sweet Tour, Our Lady's best performance ever with loud guitar rocking in her hands, Madonna felt rock

General CommentKind of a creepy song, but catchy. I always thought it spoke to me even back when I first heard it in the fifth grade. Then I learned of this thing called "borderline personality disorder". I wondered, later, if this song had anything to do with "borderline personality disorder". In fact, I could see that as being quite plausible, but it would be best to ask Madonna!